A landlord I know rented out a small two-bedroom house to a couple. They seemed neat, polite, and paid the first few months on time. One winter, the couple left for “a short trip.” They didn’t mention anything unusual. Three weeks later, the landlord got a water bill for over $900. Confused, he went to check the property. Inside, the heat was off. The kitchen faucet was running at full blast. The bathroom sink was overflowing into the tub. The tenants had left the water running to “prevent pipes from freezing.” But they never told the landlord, never turned the heat on, and never came back during the trip. By the time the landlord shut it off, there was minor water damage to the floors and cabinets. Insurance wouldn’t cover it — “tenant negligence” isn’t part of the policy.↳ The $900 bill was just the beginning. Repairs cost another $2,000. The tenants? They offered to “split the cost” but never actually paid. Some mistakes are accidents. But some… feel like someone else gambling with your money. #House #landlord